Off work sick and feeling guilty

[PollyCazaletWannabe]

Since the weekend I have been coming down with what I thought was a cold- started with sore throat/cough and then yesterday began feeling achy and sneezing. By yesterday evening I had developed a temperature and felt like absolute shit and have been off work today, aching, coughing, shivering, and sleeping on and off pretty much all day.

It looks as though I probably won't be able to go in tomorrow either but am already feeling guilty as I missed a year 11 and a year 13 lesson today as well as year 9 parents eve. :( Tomorrow am meant to be running a catch up session for year 11 as well. I am head of a key dept so me being off is really inconvenient for everyone :( how do I deal with the guilt? Should I go in tomorrow?

[Neeko]

Nope. You'll only spread germs and feel miserable. Best to have another day off and be back on form. I'm sure you are a great teacher and, yes it probably is inconvenient, but I doubt you're so good that another day will make a tremendous difference.
Feet up, plenty of hot drinks I and get well .

[PollyCazaletWannabe]

Thanks Neeko. It's so weird in teaching isn't it, the tremendous sense of guilt and that you are letting people down if you don't go in? I wonder if it's the same in other professions?

[MuttonCadet]

Yes it is, I haven't had a day off sick in 10 years. But I have the benefit of being able to work from home and so not infect anyone else.

I'm sure your students and colleagues would rather you were off than infected them as well.

(I hope you feel much better soon).

[Neeko]

I'm sure most people feel that way to a certain extent. I think it's human nature to not want to let people down when you know they are depending on you. But I think teachers do guilt particularly well/badly -dependent on perspective. Not sure why. Possibly because a good education is such an important thing to have or because most teachers are emotionally invested in their pupils or perhaps because we are ultimately accountable?? Who knows?
2 missed days in a session will not make a difference though. I'd advise going back on Friday if you are germ-free enough as it will allow you to tidy the mess and see what needs to be done next week.
No marking for you today. Have a browse on chat and style and beauty .